Mt 18:15 ¶ Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother. 16 But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established. 17 And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican. 18 Verily I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. 19 Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven. 20 For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.

The church is the whole body of Jesus Christ not a self-appointed segment or even the leadership of the church, but all the members of the local body specifically including what would be called the rank and file members!

1Co 6:1 ¶ Dare any of you, having a matter against another, go to law before the unjust, and not before the saints? 2 Do ye not know that the saints shall judge the world? and if the world shall be judged by you, are ye unworthy to judge the smallest matters? 3 Know ye not that we shall judge angels? how much more things that pertain to this life? 4 If then ye have judgments of things pertaining to this life, set them to judge who are least esteemed in the church. 5 I speak to your shame. Is it so, that there is not a wise man among you? no, not one that shall be able to judge between his brethren? 6 But brother goeth to law with brother, and that before the unbelievers. 7 Now therefore there is utterly a fault among you, because ye go to law one with another. Why do ye not rather take wrong? why do ye not rather suffer yourselves to be defrauded? 8 Nay, ye do wrong, and defraud, and that your brethren.

Any conduct which is contrary to what God reveals to us as his will, in grace and truth, through the teachings of the scripture, is an unchristian spirit of Jezebel. The Spirit of our Lord and Saviour was to take wrong.

1Pe 2:18 Servants, be subject to your masters with all fear; not only to the good and gentle, but also to the froward. 19 For this is thankworthy, if a man for conscience toward God endure grief, suffering wrongfully. 20 For what glory is it, if, when ye be buffeted for your faults, ye shall take it patiently? but if, when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye take it patiently, this is acceptable with God.

In Isa 11:2 you find the spirit of might,where the seven attributes of the one true spirit of the Lord Jesus Christ is the spirit of strength. It is the strength to take wrong and then to do no wrong in return. It is to not seek revenge or to revile!

1 Pet 2:21 For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps: 22 Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth: 23 Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously: 24 Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed. 25 For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls.

When brothers or sisters in the Lord fail in the grace of God; fail to give the grace of their salvation to other Christians, they most often do so with the defilement of an evil report!

Heb 12:14 Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord: 15 Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled;

What causes conflicts in families, churches or organizations to flare out of control and split entire groups?

What causes close friendships to be broken when neither party trespassed the other?

Why are attempts to restore a fallen Christian brother or sister often met with defeat?

A major cause is the wrong response to an evil report!

Definition: An evil report involves distortion of facts, incomplete facts or false information. It is given with wrong motivations and causes the hearer to come to inaccurate conclusions and to respond with unscriptural solutions. Evil reports are so destructive that they can even destroy long-lasting, close friendships.

Wrong doing should never be covered over. It must be brought to the attention of those who are responsible and dealt with in a Scriptural manner. This necessary process will be damaged by the defilement of an evil report!

What are the stages of defilement?

IGNORANCE: Satan will gain an advantage over us if we are ignorant of his devices.

2Co 2:11 Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices.

Ignorance is not being aware of the destructive power of untrue or distorted words.

Jas 3:6 And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell.

Ignorance of how the unclean defile the clean rather than the clean influencing the unclean to godliness and wholesomeness!

Hag 2:11 Thus saith the LORD of hosts; Ask now the priests concerning the law, saying, 12 If one bear holy flesh in the skirt of his garment, and with his skirt do touch bread, or pottage, or wine, or oil, or any meat, shall it be holy? And the priests answered and said, No.13 Then said Haggai, If one that is unclean by a dead body touch any of these, shall it be unclean? And the priests answered and said, It shall be unclean.
14 Then answered Haggai, and said, So is this people, and so is this nation before me, saith the LORD; and so is every work of their hands; and that which they offer there is unclean.

Ignorance of what constitutes an evil report; which is any unauthorized or distorted or false report that influences us to form an evil opinion about another person!

De 19:16 If a false witness rise up against any man to testify against him that which is wrong; 17 Then both the men, between whom the controversy is, shall stand before the LORD, before the priests and the judges, which shall be in those days;18 And the judges shall make diligent inquisition: and, behold, if the witness be a false witness, and hath testified falsely against his brother;19 Then shall ye do unto him, as he had thought to have done unto his brother: so shalt thou put the evil away from among you.
20 And those which remain shall hear, and fear, and shall henceforth commit no more any such evil among you.

Ignorance of how evil reports are given: Evil reports are communicated by words, facial expressions, gestures, and tonal patterns. They can be subtle or obvious, quiet or angry, sweet or bitter.

Heb 12:15 Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled;

Ignorance of who is the author of evil reports! Giving evil reports is part of the fallen nature of every person, they came to us by the device of Satan and should not be a device of God’s people!

Re 12:10 And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night.

Ignorance of how evil reports are brought to us!

A WHISPERER: One who secretly or privately passes on evil reports to others!

Ps 41:7 All that hate me whisper together against me: against me do they devise my hurt.

A GOSSIPER: One who magnifies and sensationalizes rumors and partial information.

Jas 3:5 Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth!

A SLANDERER: One who seeks to destroy another’s credibility or reputation with damaging facts, distortions of facts, or evil suspicions!

Nu 14:36 ¶ And the men, which Moses sent to search the land, who returned, and made all the congregation to murmur against him, by bringing up a slander upon the land,37 Even those men that did bring up the evil report upon the land, died by the plague before the LORD.

A BUSYBODY: One who digs up evil reports and makes it his business to spread them by means of gossip, slander, or whispering. Such conduct in the eyes of God is as great a sin against him as murder or stealing, as the word of God places them in the same context! In God’s warning to us of such conduct before him, let us hear his word!

1Pe 4:15 But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or as a thief, or as an evildoer, or as a busybody in other men's matters.

Ignorance of what motivates evil reports:

Jas 3:14 But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth.15 This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish.16 For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work.
17 But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.
18 And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace.

Evil reports come from a root of bitterness because of personal hurts. The rebellion of a justifying and independent spirit set apart from God! Deception: Believing that evil reports are right to give; Pride wanting to exalt self; Guilt justifying past actions or attitudes, Envy, Desiring what another has!

Mt 27:17 Therefore when they were gathered together, Pilate said unto them, Whom will ye that I release unto you? Barabbas, or Jesus which is called Christ?18 For he knew that for envy they had delivered him.

Ignorance of how susceptible we are to evil reports: We enjoy hearing them because they exalt us. They bring down or hurt those whom we dislike!

2Co 10:12 ¶ For we dare not make ourselves of the number, or compare ourselves with some that commend themselves: but they measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise.

Nu 14:36 ¶ And the men, which Moses sent to search the land, who returned, and made all the congregation to murmur against him, by bringing up a slander upon the land, 37 Even those men that did bring up the evil report upon the land, died by the plague before the LORD.

To cause Christians to close their spirit toward each other:

1Co 3:3 For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men?4 For while one saith, I am of Paul; and another, I am of Apollos; are ye not carnal?5 ¶ Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers by whom ye believed, even as the Lord gave to every man?6 I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase.

To multiply conflicts and produce more ungodliness!

2Ti 2:16 But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness.

To prompt non-Christians to mock Christianity and reject Jesus Christ!

Ps 12:2 They speak vanity every one with his neighbour: with flattering lips and with a double heart do they speak.3 The LORD shall cut off all flattering lips, and the tongue that speaketh proud things:4 Who have said, With our tongue will we prevail; our lips are our own: who is lord over us?

How does God want us to respond?

Ps 101:5 Whoso privily slandereth his neighbour, him will I cut off: him that hath an high look and a proud heart will not I suffer.

God’s word tells us how to have protective spiritual defenses!

Ro 16:17 ¶ Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them.

How to detect a carrier of an evil report:

A carrier will usually test your spirit before giving you the evil report. Any evidence of a compatible spirit in you will encourage him to give you the report.

A carrier will usually check your acceptance of his report before giving it to you. He may do this by asking for your opinion about the person or dropping a negative comment and observing your response to it!

Ps 41:8 An evil disease, say they, cleaveth fast unto him: and now that he lieth he shall rise up no more.

A carrier will often get you to ask for the evil report by creating curiosity for it. Some starters are: Have you heard about (the person) Wait til I tell you about the person.

A carrier may communicate an evil report by asking us for counsel or by sharing a concern for the person involved.

A carrier may use evil reports to get you to admire him or her because of being on the inside and having assess to privileged information.

A carrier is usually one who evokes vivid details of evil and will even search them out. God condemns such detectives of darkness whose tongs are like sharp swords.

Ps 57:4 My soul is among lions: and I lie even among them that are set on fire, even the sons of men, whose teeth are spears and arrows, and their tongue a sharp sword.

How to detect an evil report? By asking the following questions:

1) What is your reason for telling me?

Widening the circle of gossip only compounds the problem.

2) Where did you get your information?

Refusal to identify the source of information is a sure signal of an evil report!

Ac 25:16 To whom I answered, It is not the manner of the Romans to deliver any man to die, before that he which is accused have the accusers face to face, and have licence to answer for himself concerning the crime laid against him.

God and the Devil agree on the right to face accusers to the face in a court of ones pears!

Joh 8:10 When Jesus had lifted up himself, and saw none but the woman, he said unto her, Woman, where are those thine accusers? hath no man condemned thee?

3) Have you gone to those directly involved?

Spiritually is not measured by how well. We expose an offender, but by how effectively we restore an offender!

Ga 6:1 ¶ Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.

Facts are like peoples observed conduct in front of multiple whiteness , people’s opinions are not facts!

1Co 6:2 Do ye not know that the saints shall judge the world? and if the world shall be judged by you, are ye unworthy to judge the smallest matters? 3 Know ye not that we shall judge angels? how much more things that pertain to this life?

4) Can I quote you word for word if I check this out?

Those who give evil reports often claim that they are misquoted This is because their words and overriding impressions are what is often reported!

Pr 26:22 The words of a talebearer are as wounds, and they go down into the innermost parts of the belly.

A classic illustration of many listening to an evil report:

Absalom used an innocent sounding evil report to steal the hearts of almost an entire nation and lead it in revolt against his own father. King David! The report emphasized his concern for suffering people his deep desire that justice be done and his ability to be a better administrator than his father. Actually, Absalom was bitter because his father did not bring judgment to Absalom’s half-brother for immorality, so he took matters into his own hands and was rejected by God for it!

2Sa 15:1 ¶ And it came to pass after this, that Absalom prepared him chariots and horses, and fifty men to run before him.2 And Absalom rose up early, and stood beside the way of the gate: and it was so, that when any man that had a controversy came to the king for judgment, then Absalom called unto him, and said, Of what city art thou? And he said, Thy servant is of one of the tribes of Israel.3 And Absalom said unto him, See, thy matters are good and right; but there is no man deputed of the king to hear thee. 4 Absalom said moreover, Oh that I were made judge in the land, that every man which hath any suit or cause might come unto me, and I would do him justice!5 And it was so, that when any man came nigh to him to do him obeisance, he put forth his hand, and took him, and kissed him.6 And on this manner did Absalom to all Israel that came to the king for judgment: so Absalom stole the hearts of the men of Israel.

Absalom was bitter over a perceived dereliction of duty by his father, However, might I suggest that David was simply giving his son Ammon God’s grace that he had received for more heinous sins!

2Sa 12:13 And David said unto Nathan, I have sinned against the LORD. And Nathan said unto David, The LORD also hath put away thy sin; thou shalt not die.

It is called the sure mercies of David! It is a picture of our salvation in Jesus Christ!

Joh 1:16 And of his fulness have all we received, and grace for grace.

When we will not give the very same grace to others brothers and sisters in Jesus Christ that God gave us in our Salvation, that redeemed our souls from perditions flames,then we have failed of the grace of God!

Heb 12:14 Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord:15 Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled;

If the defilement of an evil report is not cleansed, wrong attitudes, opinions, conclusions, and actions will follow even toward very close friends!

Pr 14:15 ¶ The simple believeth every word: but the prudent man looketh well to his going.

When we receive an evil report outside the Lords only court of justice in this age the whole body of the local church, we condemn ourselves!

Pr 17:4 ¶ A wicked doer giveth heed to false lips; and a liar giveth ear to a naughty tongue.

The Truth of the Gospel in our daily walk with the Lord, is far more an important priority to a Christian than the toes on Nebuchadrezzars image!

Pr 6:12 A naughty person, a wicked man, walketh with a froward mouth.

Such a man is hated of God!

Pr 6:16 These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him: 17 A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, 18 An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief, 19 A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren.

Saved or lost such a man is following the ways of Satan and not the ways of God!

Re 12:10 And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night.

No, we do not need to agree on everything; just on the one Book, the AV 1611. One body, one Spirit, one hope, one Lord, one faith and the gospel of the grace of God!

Eph 4:2 ¶ With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love; 3 Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
4 There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling;
5 One Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6 One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all. 7 But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ. 8 Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men.

Evil reports by their nature are untruthful because they are accusations that are only to be spoken of face to face between the parties involved and before the whole church where every word may be established!

Eph 4:25 Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another.

Christians who do not believe the truth are given a strong delusion to believe a lie!

2Th 2:11 And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie:12 That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.

The truth the whole truth and nothing but the truth!

Joh 8:32 And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.